Still negative after exposure but constantly fearful

Aug 3, 2012

This is a question on behalf of a friend who was exposed to HIV. Thankfully he came out negative on all his blood tests, but the problem is that he is always thinking that he is going to get infected. If he goes to the night club or out somewhere and someone hits him accidentally, he thinks they poked him with a needle to infect him with HIV. He doesn't even want to sit on any public seats, benches, sofas, or chairs because he thinks there's a needle there. He won't drink or eat food or beverages because he thinks they put blood on it. He doesn't even want to touch anything because he is afraid. Can you tell me what's going on? He was also diagnosed with major depression and is on treatment for it.

Response from Dr. Fawcett

A healthy and informed concern about HIV/AIDS is, of course, understandable. In some persons, however, this can evolve into a fear that is irrational and even socially crippling. This has sometimes been referred to as "AIDS Phobia." In such cases, fear takes control of one's life in disproportion to the actual risk.

Phobias are an anxiety disorders, very real medical conditions that will-power alone cannot resolve. Your friend needs a complete evaluation. You mentioned that he is being treated for major depression. It is very common for someone to have co-occurring anxiety and depressive disorders.

There are effective treatments for phobias. Cognitive behavioral therapy and some pharmacological treatments have good success at reducing these symptoms. In many cases the phobias keep expanding until one's life is very constricted and unpleasant. Encourage him to get evaluation and treatment.

Take care,

-David